Nuclear Fusion: US Scientists Reach New Milestone

Recently, in a major scientific breakthrough, scientists in the US for the first time achieved a net gain in energy from a nuclear fusion reaction. Net energy gain has been an elusive goal because fusion happens at such high temperatures and pressures that it is incredibly difficult to control.

The Experiment

• Scientists forced a minuscule amount of hydrogen into a peppercorn-sized capsule. They used a powerful beam laser that could generate 100 million degree celsius of heat.
• The laser beam was hotter than the Sun’s centre and helped to compress the hydrogen fuel to more than 100 billion times that of ....